THE North West's first social enterprise conference takes place in Clitheroe next month as part of the 40th anniversary of community group, Trinity Partnership.

Key speakers at the Mytton Fold Farm Hotel, in Langho, will include Catherine McLeod, deputy director of social enterprise at the Department of Trade and Industry, and Hilary Brown, from the Bank of England.

Over 250 delegates are expected to attend the event, which will include workshops on finance and funding, social auditing and building successful social enterprises.

The conference will also seek to strengthen newly developed contacts with a social enterprise project in Cape Town, South Africa, called Includid.

The project is run by former Trinity youth worker Susan Grime, who emigrated to South Africa several years ago and now works with disabled people.

Clitheroe-based Trinity Partnership is Lancashire's largest social enterprise company, with a 95 paid staff, 130 volunteers and a portfolio of 21 projects, including the award-winning Jigsaw Pantry.

Further information and tickets for the conference, which takes place from 9.30am to 4pm, are available from Steve Miller on 01200 429625.